Description
This Chai-Spiced Pear & Almond Crumble Tart is a delightful blend of warm chai spices, tender pears, and a buttery almond oat crumble baked to golden perfection. Featuring a flaky homemade tart crust and a fragrant filling infused with cardamom and ginger, this dessert is perfect for cozy gatherings or special occasions. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an indulgent treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Tart Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup ice water
Pear Filling
- 4 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon chai spice blend
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Crumble Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare the Tart Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, and salt until combined. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture becomes crumbly with small visible pieces of butter.
- Add Ice Water: Gradually add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough just starts to come together and holds when pressed. Avoid overworking to keep the crust tender.
- Chill Dough: Form the dough into a disk shape, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up the butter and relax the gluten.
- Prepare Pear Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the sliced pears with brown sugar, flour, chai spice blend, ground ginger, and ground cardamom until the fruit is well coated and spiced.
- Make Crumble Topping: Combine the rolled oats, chopped almonds, brown sugar, and melted butter in another bowl. Mix until the ingredients are evenly incorporated to form the crumble topping.
- Roll and Assemble Tart: On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer and press it into a 9-inch tart pan, trimming any excess dough from the edges.
- Add Filling and Topping: Spoon the pear filling evenly into the prepared tart shell. Sprinkle the oat and almond crumble topping evenly over the pears.
- Bake the Tart: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the tart on the center rack and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the crust is golden brown, the crumble topping is toasted, and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the tart to cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to enhance the flavors and texture.
Notes
- For best results, use ripe but firm pears to maintain texture during baking.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for a flaky crust and easy handling.
- If preferred, substitute the almonds in the crumble topping with walnuts or pecans.
- The chai spice blend typically includes cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and black pepper; adjust to taste if desired.
- Leftover tart can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and gently reheated before serving.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
